Hydraulic cylinder mounting



Jam-,4,1968 HONG 3,386,519

HYDRAULIC CYLINDER MOUNTING .Filed June 30, 1965 z'sheets-sheet 1 Fla! 11u/enfer. ELTON B. LoNG By A. D. Goo/mp June 4, 196s E. B. LONG 3,386,519

HYDRAULIC CYLINDER MOUNTING Filed June 30. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AL 'LoN B. LONG N I Ef. Don/NELL 'N $2 ,Qrf'w United States Patent O 3,386,51? HYDRAULHC CYLENDER MOUN'NG Eiton B. Long, Burlington, Iowa, assigner to l. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed lune 30. 1%5, Ser. No. 468,426 3 Claims. (Cl. 172-805) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLSURE A hydraulic -cylinder mounting assembly for angling a bulldozer blade, the dozer having a frame with guide means, a cylinder supported inter-mediate its ends and slidable along the guide means, and a cylinder rod secured to the frame. The rod remains in a xed position and the cylinder moves in a fore and aft direction along the guide means to angle the blade.

This invention relates to earth moving equipment and more particularly to an improved mounting for the hydraulic push or angling cylinders for a bulldozer.

Hydraulic rams or cylinders are generally used to control the position of the earth working blade which is attached -to the front end of a vehicle. The blade may be raised or lowered by actuating the lift cylinders or the blade may be angled by actuating the push or angling cylinders. Prior Ibulldozer constructions have had an angling cylinder assembly mounted on each side of the vehicle or tractor so that the blade could be advanced on either side and thereby would be changed for various types of work. A typical installation of such a construction is disclosed in l atent No. 2,943,407, issued to E. B. Long, which discloses a conventional mounting arrangement for the push or angling cylinders. However, the particular construction of this mounting and similar cylinder assemblies may limit the amount of blade angle which can be obtained when the blade is located at a minimum distance from the tractor. It is a desirable feature in a bulldozer to have the blade located as close as possible to the tractor frame or support means so that the large stresses developed under loa-d are better controlled when the length of the push arms is as short as practicable. It is also desirable to have the greatest possible blade angle when operating under extreme conditions which may call for material to be moved in a restricted or congested area.

The present invention is an improvement over the conventional hydraulic cylinder assembly mounting, and the principal object of this invention is to provide for a cylinder mounting which allows the blade to be positioned at a greater angle.

A further object is to provide a mounting which allows close coupling of the blade to the tractor for proper blade balance.

An additional object is to provide a cylinder mounting which protects the finished working parts yfrom dirt and debris.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevational View of a crawler tractor with a dozer blade and cylinder mounting embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. l, with parts broken away.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is mounted on a tractor having an endless driven track 12 at each side, a main frame member 14, and carrying a bulldozer assembly 16. A track support frame 18 is carried by the main frame for supporting the driven track "ice suspension system. Bulldozer assembly 16 is of a conventional type and includes a blade supporting frame 20, and a transversely extending blade 22. A hydraulic ram or cylinder assembly 23 is pivotally supported on each side of the tractor to move the blade 22 in raising or lowering positions in relation to the ground line.

It will be understood that the various parts of the hydraulic cylinder mountings are identical on each side of the tractor, so that only the parts on one side will be shown and described, except as required to further disclose the construction and operation of the invention.

The supporting trame 20 of the blade mounting st-ructure is generally of U-shaped construction having push arms 24 and a front portion 25 extending across the front end of the tractor. A push arm 24 extends rearwardly along each side of the tractor from the front portion 25, and the rear end of arm 24 is connected to the track frame 18, Iwith a suitable trunnion arrangement. A trunnion plate 26 which has a trunnion .pin 28 iixed thereto is bolted to the track frame 18. The rear portion of each push arm 2o has a notched portion or groove 30 which fits on pin 28, and a retaining pin 32 is inserted adjacent trunnion pin 28 to lhold pin 28 in notched portion 30. The blade 22 is thus pivotally connected on each side of the tractor to allow for raising and lowering said blade dependent upon the attitude ofthe work.

A pivot assembly 34 is provided in the central portion of the U-shaped frame 20 at the front of the tractor. Frame Ztl has a bore 36 through which a pivot pin 38 is inserted for holding a bifurcated bracket 40. Bracket 40l is connected to the rear side of blade 22 so that the blade is pivotable about a vertical axis with respect to the tractor.

As stated above, the bulldozer assembly is of the conventional type and includes blade 22 and a pair of hydraulic litt cylinder assemblies 23 for raising and lowering the forward portion of the U-shaped frame and the blade. Each ram or cylinder is pivotally mounted in a trunnion 46 which is carried by the body portion 50 of the tractor. The piston rod 52 of the cylinder is universally connected to bracket 56 on the transverse portion of the U-frame. The hydraulic lift assemblies are of a suitable and wellknown type, and it is believed that further disclosure is not required as these assemblies form no part of the present invention.

The invention provides angling means for changing the angle of the blade to the right or to the left side. It can be 'appreciated that a greater blade angle is desired when moving or lworking earth material in a restricted or congested rarea, and where the working area is limited. The angling means consists of hydraulic cylinder or ram assemblies 60 and 62 on the U-shaped frame and means connecting the angle cylinders 64 to strut assemblies 68. Each strut assembly is connected to rearwandly facing bifuroated 'brackets 72 and 74. Anchor means or iirst bracket means S0 are fixed on the rear portion of -arm 24 preferably adjacent trunnion plate 26 and trunnion pin 28. Piston rod 82 is pivotally connected to bracket by means of a pivot pin 84, and rod 82 is connected to the usual piston S5 which reciprocates in cylinder 64. It should be noted that herein is a novel construction for mounting the blade Iangling cylinders in that the piston .rod remains xed land the cylinder moves forward and rearward. This construction allows the blade to be positioned lat a greater angle because the cylinder portion ot the hydraulic Iassembly extends into the unused space just behind the blade. Another feature of the invention provides for decreasing the length of the push arms so that the blade can be close coupled to the tractor and thus reduced stresses caused by large loads when the blade is in a maximum angle position.

Since the cylinder portion moves forward and rearward, substantially the entire length of the ram assembly is utilized by the piston and rod, whereas in the conventional cylinder mounting, the piston moves only partially the length of the cylinder. The trunnion mounting provides that the collapsed or retracted length of the cylinder is reduced and therefore the push arms are decreased in length. The decreased length of the push arms allows the `front portion of the U-shaped frame to be located nearer the tractor.

A guiding means or rail 88 is secured to the push arm 24 and `a guide means or second bracket 90 is provided with a slot means which registers and interengages with rail 88, as seen in FIG. 3. The support guide means or bracket 90 has a lhalf-socket 92 fixed thereon which engages and holds cylinder 64, and mating capl 94 is bolted to half-socket 92. Thus, the cylinder is trunnion mounted on push arm 24. Guide means 88, in the present instance, is an elongated rail preferably welded on push arm 24 for a length thereof. Bracket 90 slidably moves along the length of rail S8, carrying the attached cylinder along its path of travel and holds the parts in their proper relationship to insure a smooth action of the piston and rod in cylinder 64. One end of strut assembly 68 is secured to bracket 90` so that as the hydraulic cylinder 64 on the left side of the tractor is extended, the left side of blade 22 will be moved forward in relation to the tractor and to the blade supporting push arm. In similar manner, as the corresponding cylinder of hydraulic cylinder assembly 60 on the right side of the tractor is extended, the right side of blade 22 will be moved forward in relation to the tractor and the push arm. If the greatest blade angle is desired, cylinder 64 is fully extended and the corresponding cylinder is fully retracted for angling the material to the right. The opposite laction of the cylinders causes the blade to angle the material to the left, as when one cylinder is extended, the other cylinder is retracted.

The operation of the hydraulic system for supplying pressure fluid is conventional in that .a hydraulic pump is provided to force the fluid through the lines to the cylinders, the flow of fluid being controlled by the operator of the machine. The pressure fluid enters the piston rod at the rear end thereof and then goes through the hollow rod into the cylinder where the fluid acts on the piston to extend the cylinder. At the same time, the opposite cylinder retracts as a result of the pivoting of the blade on the front portion of the supporting frame. The strut assembly, being connected to the cylinder 'and to the blade, transfers movements of the cylinder to the blade for right or left side angling.

It is thus seen that the closed portion of the cylinder assembly is positioned behind the blade, and dirt and debris lcannot get on the Ihighly finished piston rod which is located remotely from the blade. Dirt, rocks and debris would hinder the operation of the piston rod as it moves in and out of the cylinder. For instance, a large rock falling over the blade onto the piston rod may nick, dent or bend the rod and cause a leak in the pressure fluid system. The possibility of this occurring is certainly minimized by the position of the piston rod in the present invention. A cover 96 supported from push arm 24 on each side of the tractor is provided over the piston rod to protect it `from dirt, rocks and debris. Cover 96 also serves as a step or walkway alongside the track.

Another advantage of the improved cylinder mounting is the location of the cylinder in relation to its respective strut assembly. The strut assembly protects the cylinder from rocks and debris that may be pushed up and over the blade.

It can be lappreciated that herein disclosed is an irnproved mounting for a hydraulic cylinder which allows for greater angling of a bulldozer blade while keeping the blade close-coupled to the tractor. The cylinder portion of the hydraulic assembly is thus positioned to extend into the available and unused space between the blade and the tractor for the advantage of greater blade angle and fclose-coupling.

While only one embodiment has been disclosed, it will be apparent that alterations and variations of the mounting may be made. The mounting arrangement herein disclosed is not limited to use with a bulldozer assembly, but it can be utilized for mounting and controlling the movement of equipment for other vehicles or irnplements where angling of such equipment is desired.

ther variations may occur to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited by the specific embodiment described and illustrate'd, or in fact in any manner except as dened in the `following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. 'In an angling means for a bulldozer of the type including a tractor, frame means connected to and extending forwardly along the sides of the tractor, a dozer blade pivotally supported on the frame means forwardly of the tractor, and a hydraulic ram assembly disposed on each side of said tractor, each ram assembly comprising a cylinder positioned rearwardly of the blade and forwardly on the frame, support means on the cylinder for trunnion mounting intermediate the ends thereof,

a piston reciprooable in the cylinder,

a piston rod connected to the piston and reciprocable in said cylinder, and

means Ifor supplying pressure `fluid to said cylinder;

means anchoring said piston rod in a maintained position to said frame means at a point remote from said dozer blade whereby pressure fluid introduced into said cylinder will cause movement of said cylinder relative to said piston rod and to said frame means,

interengaging guide means on said support means and on said frame means for guiding the movements of said cylinder in a desired path relative to said frame means, and

a strut connected to said support means and to said blade to transfer movements of said cylinder to said blade for angling said blade relative to said tractor land to said frame means.

2. In an improved hydraulic cylinder mounting for a tractor having a U-shaped frame extending along each side of and across the front of said tractor, a dozing blade pivotally attached to said U-frame for adjustment of said blade relative to said yU-frame and said tractor, and a hydraulic cylinder assembly on each side of said tractor, each |assembly having a cylinder and a piston and rod; the improvement including a pair of upstanding brackets secured to said frame adjacent the rear ends thereof, each of said rods being pivotally attached to its respective bracket,

a guide rail on each side of said tractor and forwardly on said U-frame,

a pair of strut assemblies each connected to one end of said blade, and

a pair of slide brackets each secured to the other end of its respective strut assembly and having means for engaging 'with said guide rail, each of said hydraulic cylinders being secured intermediate the ends thereof to its respective slide bracket and positioned to slide in opposite directions for angling said blade in relation to said U-frame and to said tractor.

3. In an improved bulldozer construction for a tractor comprising a U-shaped frame adapted to extend across the front end of said tractor and having a pair of side arms each extending along one side of said tractor for pivotal attachment thereto, a blade swivelly mounted intermediate its ends on said frame about a vertical axis, and a pair of strut assemblies each connected at one end to one end of said blade; the improvement including 5 6 a pair of slide brackets each universally secured to the References Cited other end of its respective strut assembly and hav- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing guiding slot means extending longitudinally therethrough, a pair of hydraulic ram assemblies, each 2687586 8/1254 Dlckmson 37-144 having a cylinder and a piston and rod, each rod 5 2943407 7/160 Long 37-144 'being connected in a maintained position to one of 3'157099 11/1964 Ulrich 37-144 XR said arms at the rear end thereof, 'and 'a guide rail FOREIGN PATENTS on each of said arms and mtsrengaged W1th its 240,639 V9/1962 Australia.

slide bracket slot means, said cylinders being connected intermediate their ends to their respective slide brackets for forcibly and simultaneously sliding said 10 ABRAHAM G' STONE P'lmmy Examine,"

brackets along their respective rails in opposite di- R. L. HOLLISTER, A. E. KOPECKI,

rections to thereby angle said blade with respect to Assistant Examiners. said tractor about said vertical axis. 

